Outside the Moscow restaurant where bomb killed three
The BBC's Russia editor reports from Kudrinskaya Square, where the blast took place.
On Kudrinskaya Square, the police cordon was removed from outside the Balzi Rossi Italian restaurant following a bomb explosion that killed three and injured 21. Investigators had cordoned off the scene earlier that Saturday night, where heavily armed police, ambulances, and emergency vehicles were present. Signs of the explosion were evident, including a shattered window and pock-marked walls.
Russian state media reported at least three fatalities and 21 injuries. The National Anti-Terrorism Committee suspects a woman with an improvised explosive device attempted to enter the restaurant, possibly as a courier delivering a parcel without knowledge of its contents. A security guard thwarted her entry, after which the device detonated.
There have been unconfirmed reports that a senior Russian military commander may have attended the private dinner; however, there is no official confirmation regarding the guest list. The Kremlin has not commented but blamed the attack on Ukraine via a statement from the Russian Embassy in Italy. Many on Kudrinskaya Square believe the explosion is linked to the ongoing war in Ukraine, with some expressing anger towards the UK's support for Ukraine.
Despite the severity of the incident, the explosion garnered minimal coverage on Russian TV, potentially due to authorities' desire to prevent alarm among the public.
Written by urgent.news from BBC World's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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